New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-28
THE ORA Nj.
" UARBOR LIGHTS

new play entitled 4" IIsrbor Lights written by
Mcssrs Sims and petti't, OF London, acted last
nsht for the first time in this city ot Wallack's
Theatre and was received there with many marks OF
favor by a large audience. This play has bad career
OF more than 100 nights at the Adephi Theatre, in
London and has also met with this side OF
the ocean notably In Boston. The welcome accorded
to Il NJ Nallack's may be accepted an augurv of
kindred popularity here. IL IL n simple rtra gbtiOr
ward. olda-hioncd. upright and downright romantic
melodrama. Its good people are but little lower than
the angels and its bad people will aims OF the deep
dye. It, hero is lieutenant in the English Navy
Its chiei villain il disgraced officer who has been ex
PEELED from that service These two persons are con-
irOnted through series OF more or less impossible
scenes. in which the former behaves in brave, manly
and delightful manner winning the lady OF his love
and surmounting every obstacle that malignant,
though not very adrot craitiness can throw in his
WAY while the latter conducts himself with persistent
Offensive and und-gu -ed venom. The material in
both instances, whether of virtue or wickedness 10
very indeed Several times. in the situations
trived by Messrs Sims amt Pettt virtue is assaulted
under circumstances which. in real lie, would have
led TO the immediate settlement OF all difficult with
a club possibly with boot and several times in
other situations aigny il made to prosper, at least
the extent of carry ing the plot OF the piece by
expcdents VIII CHI in real life would not deceive even
rabbit andcould not harm "a N.Y. The device whereby
the wicked Squire induces Miss Kobe TO visit his
Baronial Hall Mt night and alone, and the pretext
whereby the treacherous steward induces the vrtuous
Lieutenant to follow her thither might be indicated as
specimen OF this incongruous machinery.
However. Harbor Lights being intended "a mel
10
alton and in these cases. it the telling situation can be
created il is not deemed essential 10 scrupu0us TO
nature and probability In the method OF their nanuact
ure The third OF the niece con .ains murder
Dora " has been lured TO the Hall by Squire
Morland," who there assaults her; but suddenly
1" Lieutenant Kingsley" dasbes mo the room and
effects her rescue-lcading her away; whereupon
Mark HelstOne whose name sufficiently indicates
his naure, having incidentally discovered that the
squire" has seduccd his chosen love, ewerges from
behind n window curtain and slaughters the Squire
with pistol. In the sixth scene Lieutenant
Kingsley" being then aboard his ship and about To
sail is accused OF this MURDER and the remainder of the
pIece-which In all contains ten scencs-is occupied
in his Nndicaton This thread OF the story braided
in with many threads of triiing incident and more
less commonplace detail, some of 1t explanatory and
some OF II play tu The scenes have been set upon Mr.
Wallack's stage with remarkable beauty OF compost
ton and with splendid pictorial effect.
The demand upon the actors, about thirty In num-
her, who engaged in the representation, chiefly
tor little sketches from real life Sometimes. the
performance proceeded the attracted by "a
neat bit of ii herman character sometimes by roll
licking sailor hugging his lass intent upon his grog
sometimes by "a sliN and formal naval Oihcer; some
times by Mr. Henley. very transparent in his deadly
purpose stalking gracefully about and utteriDg insults
any of which " Lieutenant Kingsley" OF real
life would Instantly have choked him sometimes by
the handsome and ardenty garrulous lover kryie
and breezy exulting in his supreme happiness; some
times by Miss Annie Robe. who carried
two three CT the important stu
atoms by her tremulous sensibllity,
her winning womanlike ways and her almost tragical
force But at point was there u demand Tor extraor-
binary histrionio power and it only remains to be
said that and satisfactory representation did
entire Justice interior play which nevertheless
contains materials disposed to captiyae the fancy
OF the average theatrical audience.